Quebec woman found guilty of tax fraud; four year sentence given

Longueuil resident Christine Bieri pleaded guiltyon Friday to tax fraud charges before the Court of Quebec in Longueuil. She received a conditional sentence of eighteen months.

A Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) investigation revealed that, for the 2003 to 2010 tax years, Christine Bieri advised and helped 13 individuals avoid or try to avoid paying more than $120,000 in income tax by claiming inadmissible expenses to reduce or cancel their taxable income. This scheme is based on an argument popular with tax protester movements.

The activities for which Ms. Bieri was charged occurred between July 2009 and June 2010. During that period, she acted as a facilitator for Christian Lachapelle, a tax protester scheme promoter. Mr. Lachapelle pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges on October 22, 2015 and was sentenced to four years in prison.

All case-specific information above was obtained from the court records.

The CRA warns all Canadians to beware of tax protesters that try to convince you that Canadians do not have to pay tax on the income they earn. Canadian courts have repeatedly and consistently rejected arguments made in these tax protester schemes. For those involved in such schemes, the CRA will reassess income tax and interest, and charge penalties. More information on tax protester schemes is available at www.cra.gc.ca/alert.

If you have ever made a tax mistake or omission, the CRA is offering you a second chance to make things right through its Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP). If you make a valid disclosure before you become aware that the CRA is taking action against you, you may only have to pay the taxes owing plus interest. – CNW